Dismissed

Rita Saha v. State of West Bengal and Ors.

Calcutta HC8 Apr 2021WPA/2771/2021

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What is this about?

Single Bench disposed of a writ petition filed by a retired Assistant Teacher seeking interest on delayed gratuity and arrear pension. The court noted a considerable filing delay but relied on precedents allowing relief despite delay where no third-party rights are affected, granting interest at 8% per annum.

What did the court decide?

Pay interest @ 8% per annum on gratuity and arrear pension calculated from 01.8.2018 till actual payment within eight weeks.

Rita Saha Vs State of West Bengal and Ors. — Pension and Retirement Benefits | Calcutta HC (2021)

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S/L 51 08.4.2021 Court No. 26 SD

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WPA 2771 of 2021 (Via Video Conference)

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Rita Saha Vs.

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State of West Bengal & Ors.

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Mrs. Sabita Khutia (Bhunya)

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… for the Petitioner.

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Md. Mansoor Alam

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… for the State.

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Affidavit of service filed in court today is kept with the record.

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The petitioner was an Assistant Teacher of a High School who retired on 30.6.2018. The petitioner had completed all his pension related formalities prior to his retirement. However, the concerned authorities delayed and released gratuity and arrear pension amount on 15.02.2019. The petitioner herein seeks interest to be paid on the gratuity and arrear pension amount for the interim period of delay in receipt of the gratuity and arrear pension amount.

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There is a considerable delay in filing of the writ petition, which the petitioner seeks to justify by stating that there is no statutory period of limitation and neither parties have suffered due to this delay. It is the submission of the petitioner that accordingly the petition should be allowed. The petitioner relies upon an order in W.P. 17557 (W) of 2017 (Narayan Chandra Saha vs. State of West Bengal & Ors.) wherein a co-ordinate Bench had relied upon the Supreme

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Court judgment in the case of Union of India vs. Tarsem Singh, reported in (2008) 8 SCC 648 on the issue of limitation relating to payment or refixation of pay or pension wherein the Apex Court had held that relief may be granted in spite of delay as it does not affect the rights of the third party.

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In view of the above and after hearing the learned Counsel for the parties, I direct the Director of Pension, Provident Fund and Group Insurance, Government of West Bengal as also the concerned Treasury Officer to pay interest to the petitioner @ 8% per annum on the gratuity and arrear pension amount calculated from 01.8.2018 till the date of actual payment. Such payment is to be made within a period of eight weeks from the date of communication of this order.

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With these observations, the writ petition is disposed of.

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Since, no affidavit-in-opposition has been called for, the allegations made in the writ petition are deemed to have not been admitted by the respondents.

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There will be no order as to costs.

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Urgent photostat certified copy of this order, if applied for, be given to the parties, on priority basis.

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(Shekhar B. Saraf, J.)

Rita Saha v. State of West Bengal and Ors.

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Rita Saha v. State of West Bengal and Ors.

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